Novel immunotherapeutic strategies based on targeting specific tumour-associated antigens with antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells and bispecific T cell engagers (BTEs) are revolutionizing the treatment of multiple myeloma. In this Review, the authors describe the clinical experience to date with ADCs, CAR T cells and BTEs targeting B cell maturation antigen, G protein-coupled receptor family C group 5 member D and Fc receptor-like protein 5. In addition, they discuss the mechanisms of resistance to such therapies, and potential strategies by which resistance could be overcome to improve patient outcomes.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to dramatically change several aspects of oncology including diagnosis, early detection and treatment-related decision making. However, many of the underlying algorithms have been or are being trained on datasets that do not necessarily reflect the diversity of the target population. For this, and other reasons, many AI tools might not be suitable for application in less economically developed countries and/or in patients of certain ethnicities. In this Perspective, the authors discuss possible sources of inequity in AI development, and how to ensure the development and implementation of equitable AI tools for use in patients with cancer.

Increasing evidence indicates that intratumoural bacteria can have crucial roles in both the pathogenesis and treatment of cancer. In this Review, the authors discuss the characteristics of intratumoural bacteria and the emerging understanding of their tumour-promoting and antitumour activities. They also describe a range of innovative strategies that are being used to engineer bacteria for use in the treatment of cancer and summarize clinical trials of various bacteria-mediated cancer immunotherapies.

Following the introduction of blinatumomab in 2014, the past 4 years have seen the approval of a further ten bispecific antibodies, reflecting substantial research effort and clinical interest in these agents. In this Review, the authors describe the developments leading to the approval of these novel agents and highlight important future research directions, including clinical optimization as well as innovative antibody engineering approaches.